Low pressure gas alarm



JL'Y 21', 1936 Y R. H. MYERS ET AL 2,048,615v

l Low PRESSURE GAs ALARM` Filed sept. 25,` 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 5 5K/719]' sa 0 2l 3 /2 I: 'C 3l* i 2*-/6 i Z2 L- l@ /6 l Ell/[y @rs louis ,lancoz ATTORNEY lilly 21, 1936. R. H. MYERS Er Al.

LOW PRESSURE GAS ALARM Filed sept. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MJv @www5 ATTORNEY Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,048,615? Y l f f Low PRESSURE GAs ALARM Y Roy H. Myers and Louis Sandoz,` Ventura, Calif. Application vSeptember 25; v1935, Serial No.1 42-134 I claims. (c1. '11e-vo) y The invention relates to a low pressure Valarm. and more especially to a gas flow alarm.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of va device of this character, wherein an audible and visible alarm *isrgiven for the rpurpose of safeguarding the lives of human beings ,when the gas pressure in a Vsupply main lowers so that there is no possibility of the escape of gas at a burner should the flame become extinguished dueto the drop or lowering of the Vpressure of gas delivered thereto, the device being especially adaptable vshould someone accidentally fall asleep with the gas burning and the pressure become low in the -feed -conduit or line because on the sounding of the alarm the person will awaken and suicient time will be had to inspect land shut off the flow of gas rto the burner.

Another object of the invention is the `provision of a device of this character, wherein the construction thereof is novel in form so that it will be compact and will not be unsightly when associated with a gas main or conduit and will ,be automatic in its action for `giving an alarm either audible or visible or both when gas pressure becomes lowered in the line whereby an attendant can shut .olf the supply until the pressure rises therein. Y

A further object of the invention is the profvisiongofa device of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable. and eiicient in its operation, readily and easily coupled with a,- gas feed line, automatically operable and inexpensive to manufacture and install'. t Withv the-se and other/objects in view, the invvention consists in the features of construction, .combinationand arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter'more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the f preferred embodimentof the invention and pointed` out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings: f

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view Vthrough the device constructed in accordance with the invention and a portion of the Vbell` being broken away. l

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of ,Figure 1. l

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. f Y

Figure `l is a sectional-'view on the line 4-4 Vvof Figure 1. i

-Figure isa sectional View on the line 5-5 ofH Figure 3. v v

Figure 6 is aV fragmentary vertical sectional view through the coupling-between the device and ,a ,gas feed. main showing detailthe Yexpansible y' and collapsible diaphragm.-

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout. the several views in the dra-wings. Y y v Referring to the drawingsV in detail, ,A designates a portion of a gas line,.orhsupplypipe Ythrough which the row..offgas c'is vcontrolled by means of a hand operableplugl valve B- Y Fitted in thepipe A isa T unionl andthe .same is g located on Vthe outletside ofthe. said pipefwith respect to the valve B. With this union is attached by a coupling II. a vertically disposed or by legs I5 a cylinder I6 y-havi-ng a removabletopiz or cover I1. Into'thiscylinder is extended the -upper endof the barrel I2.y Formed inthe upper end-of the barrel I2 isa spiderrconstituting -a center guide I 8 .for thestern- I6 of a follower head playing upon thediaphragm'l; The stem I 9; `also, carriesa weight disk 2I foraction upon a trip army22extended fromthe arbor, 23 of a latching detent24ythe arbor 23 being -jeu-rnaled in a bearing25 Yformed with thecylinderfII.

Y At one side ofV- thecylinder Ifisfsupported'onthe ,bed or lplatform I4 a springactuated alarm'clock -mechanisrn 26 :which through the escapement wheel 21 andthe -escapement 28,-r'espectively, op-

lverates a bell clapper :28,for'the striking of a bell 3IZIA when the mechanism. 26fis free for operation.; The arbor 3-I for the escapement wheel 2'I has xed thereto a i peripherally `notched latching wheel 32 withwhichecoacts the latching detent 24 so that when the detent is engaged inv the notches in the' wheel 32 the mechanism'26 will beheld passive or inactive and .this detent is engaged with the wheel 32. when the diaphragm I3 Vis extended under theinuenceof high gas pressure within the main or pipe A. When the diaphragm I 3Y collapses'` the weight disk2 I acts upon `thearm 22 to movethedetent 24' so lthat'vthe mechanism 26 is freed for action. `'Ihe spring 33A ofv this mechanism 26is hand woundvby a key 34l accessible exteriorly of a cover housing 35 for the mechanism 26'and the cylinder I6 and detachably fastened upon the bed or platform I 4. v

The-housing 3'5 at one side isfitted with ascreen panel 36 so that the sound` of -the -bell 3A0 when acted upon by the clapper 29will bereadily 45 which is of; thimble-Liikerorm.

emitted from the housingv 35 and clearly audible forsignal or alarm purposes. f o Y TheV mechanism 26 controls and operates aV V- cam 31 active-upon a rocking lever 38 journaled 1 '-5'. ina bearingV or bracket` 39 and has linkage `at 40 'Y with a swinging visible signal plate 4| journaled VVat` 42Y upon an upright or standard 43 rising from and carried by the platform or bed VI4 interiorly'of the housing 35. The plate 4| is adapt- Y ed to be moved upwardly through aV slot 44-formed inthe top of the housing 35 to'signallingpositions when the mechanism 26 is active resultant Vfrom low pressure presence Within the main 'or pipeV A-- and in this manner a person will havethe benefit of `an audible and visible signal indicative of low pressure within-the main or'pipe-:Agtheseisignals being operated on activityr of the mechanism 26ol L within thenousing' a5.= Y.The arbor Vof thecam 31 andwhich is the winding shaft ffor; the springv i' 20 33 hasgthereon a stop 4arrn 46 arranged inthe path `of a stop lug 41-on thevframe for the mechanism A2.6 so thatrthe Vcam 31 will berlimited inl itsrtravel Yin a directiontc operate the lever 38 for the actuation' of the signal plate4`l; YThis lever 38 ,has

'275 Yconnectedetheretc a tensioningv spring48so that 'when the'cam 3,1isinactive on the lever 38 the spring 48 becomes active to lower the-signalling p1ate4 I .in to Vthehousing 35 which is the normal positionofsaid plate. A l

j -Y n ,'rhegpiate has the stops lc'u't and beati/chere- Yfrom to coactwiththe standard 43 so as to limit fthe throw of. the plate 4l in reverse directions when actuated by the cam i31 orthe spring 48.

Whenrhe' key aus aimed for the winding-of '35 the spring 33 of Ythe* mechanism i26 the Vcam 31 Y is moved away from the lever 38 and by the Yaction Vof the spring 4.8 theV signallingplatel is lowered.v from signalling position to within the housing l andpthus out of sight. f y 4 Y p The seatingat u f the diaphragm I3`and the ,coupling Il effects a seal vagainst the escapement [of VVgas' through the barrel-,|52 intoi the cylinder. 'lli and assuresthe pressure of thegas within the YKmain or pipe directly against-the Thegoperation of the mechanism 26-"isftimed rbythecam 31..,beca`use on the releaseof thefwheel Y 32 the audible alarm Yis sounded by Ythe Astriking of Vthe'bell 3B until the plate14l has moved-tovisible l y5o signauingpbsition.whence the-mechanism is rendered passive orfstopS by the memberf46 engag- 'Y ing the stop 4,1and'this interval of signallingof ,1 ,the device allows'afperson-recognizing the signals to shut oi the gas-,in the main orpipe A by thek 55 va1veB,rth1e latterbeing normally in open positionfor the feeding of gas to a pointjof consump- Y tion through the' main or pipeA.

The detent 24 carries fa weight 5I'so that it will Vbe moved to locking position 'with-the wheel 32 Y when the Weightdisk V2| is lifted froml theY arm `vveightclisk-2I is relieved-from the arm.22,

' "Tl'1`e` bell130 is 'carried upon a support 52'suitably fittedV in.l the bed or platform I 4 within the Y housing 35 and issoundedrby the clapper29whe Vthe mechanism 26 is operating. K Y, Y Y

What is Vclaimedfis: 1

2,048,515 f i Y 3:' A device of the 'character-described compris- VVVingalarm mechanism having a'key Vwound main spring, a. latching wheel driven 'by said mecha- Ydiaphragm'la Y c g' 'the' same, a.'Y coupling connecting the;;barre1 with 5 diaphragm; .afweight disk ycarried bythe stem; a :rocking shaft ljournaled through the side of the *leasably feng'ageable :with the latching wheel,v a signal plate swingingly supported, an actuatingV `lrever'for the signalling plate,1a cam drivenby said mechanism and operatingruponv the ac lniatingV position; means for moving the actuating Vlever 1. A device of the character described comprising alarm mechanism havingva keywound main spring, a latching Wheel driven by said YVmechanism, a cylinder 4,having a 'barrel opening j into the same, a coupling connecting .the barrel 5f With-a fluid pressure main, an expansible and contractible diaphragm ttingsaidcoupling and confined within the barrel, a stem slidably fitted in the barrel and having a head contactingwith said diaphragm, a Weight 'disk carried byY the stem, a rocking shaft journaled through the side of the cylinder and having aV lever acted'upon by .the weight disk, a, latchng arm on said shaft and: releasably engageable with the latching wheeL-a Y 'signalplate swingingly supported, an actuating l5 lever. for the signalling plate and a camj driven by said mechanism and operatingupon the actuating lever tofmove the vsignalling plate toA signalling position.' Y Y 1 2.*A'device ofthe character described compris- Y ing'alarm mechanism'having* a key Ywound main spring, a-latching Wheel driven'by said mecha- Y "nism, a cylinderhaving Vagbarrel, openingy into the same, acoupling connecting lthe barrel with a fluid pressurepmaim van'rexpansible and l'con` tractible diaphragm fitting said coupling and conned'within'the barrel, a stem slidably fitted in the barrel 4,and having a Vhead contacting vwith saiddiaphragm, a Weight disk carried' by the stem, a rocking shaft journaled through the side of the Y 36 cylinder-.and having a lever acted upon bythe Weight disk, aV latching arm onsaid lshaft andre- {leasablyengageable with thelatchingrwheelfa v Asignal plate swingingly supported, an actuating lever for; the signalling` plate, a'fcarn driven Wby 35 .said rnechanismandY operating upon thexactu- 1 -V ating 'lever to move the-.signalling `plate to siglnalling positionand means for'moving the actugatingflever when released by the cam toV move the i signalling plate to non-signalling position-.V1v

nismfa cylinder 'having a barrelV opening intol a fluid pressureV main,v an f e'xpansible r`and l coin-VV tractible diaphragm tting said coupling .and'conlned within the barrehastem slidably'nttedin the'barrel and having a head contacting with said Vcylinder andhaving aleverV acted=-u`pon by the weight disk, a latching arm on said shaft and relever to move the: signalling plate to ysignalling when released by the cam to move the signalling plate `to nonsignalling position and means cooperating withthe cam to limit the movement of "the latter whenshiftingtne sigriainng p1ace to' signalling position. f Y i 4. A device of the characterldescribedcompris-`65 VVingalarm mechanism having a lkey wound mainr ,.spring,v a latching wheel driven Vby c said mechamism; a cylinder having a barrel opening into the same, a coupling connecting .the .barrely with a. Y

Viuidjpressure main, an expansible and contractf-[o ible diaphragm fitting said `coupling and confined within the barrel, a stem slidably tted in the barrel and having a head contacting with said diaphragm, a Weight disk carried by the stem a rockingshaft journaled through the side ofthe {7"5 l cylinder and having a lever acted upon by the Weight disk, a latching arm on said shaft and releasably engageable with the latching wheel, a signal plate swingingly supported, an actuating lever for the signalling plate, a cam driven by said mechanism and operating upon the actuating lever to move the signalling plate to signalling position, means for moving the actuating lever when released by the cam to move the signalling plate to non-signalling position, means cooperating with the cam to limit the movement of the latter when shifting the signalling plate to signalling position, and escapement means included with said mechanism for intermittently sounding a bell.

5. A device of the character described comprising alarm mechanism having a key Wound main spring, a latching wheel driven by said mechanism, a cylinder having a barrel opening into the same, a coupling connecting the barrel with a uid pressure main, an expansible and contractible diaphragm fitting said coupling and conned within the barrel, a stem slidably fitted in the barrel andrhaving a head contacting with said diaphragm, a weight disk carried by the stem, a rocking shaft journaled through the side of the cylinder and having a lever acted upon by the weight disk, a latching arm on said shaft and releasably engageable with the latching wheel, a signal plate swingingly supported, an actuating lever for the signalling plate, a cam driven by said mechanism and operating upon the actuating lever to move the signalling plate to signallingV position, means for moving the actuating lever' when released by the cam to move the signalling plate to non-signalling position, means cooperating with the cam to limit the movement of the latter when shifting the signalling plate to signalling position, escapement means included with said mechanism for intermittently sounding a bell and means enclosing the said mechanism, cylinder and the bell.

ROY H. MYERS.

LOUIS SANDOZ. 

